I have a W210 sedan (E430) and a 2000 Volvo S70. I tried to get my wife in a V70 wagon, but she said she felt like a soccer mom, so we bought her the Sedan.

I also owned a W124 300E before buying the E430.

The W210 has a lot more body roll than the W124. It also wallowed like a whale. When I got my car, it had as much body roll as a Buick LeSabre. The suspension was like the Buick Dynaride.

I immediately swapped out the original shocks and struts with Bilstein HD's and it firmed things right up. I still think the ride on my 300E was better, but it's awfully close.

I'm a big fan of the Volvo S70 / V70 as well. Our S70 has been perfectly reliable. The seats are supremely comfortable, better than both the W124 and W210. I'd rate the Volvo seats as a 10 (out of 10), the W124 a 9, and the W210 seats a 7. I love the interior design of the Volvo, and the quality of the materials, fit and finish, is high. The engine (2.5 liter non-turbo) is course and loud, though, and just barely adequate.

The a/c on our W210 works fantastic. It is the coldest a/c I have ever experienced in a car I've owned. The blower speed to me seems just as fast as that of my former W124. The rear passenger vents don't blow with much alacrity, but they are there nevertheless.

One big difference you'll notice between the W210 and W124 is rear seat space. It isn't even close. The W210 has incredible back seat space. It is like a limousine in comparison.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Since rear shocks on a wagon are load levelers, "swapping for Bilsteins" is irrelevant.

W210 is larger than either Swede so obviously feels that way.

Be careful with a Volvo interior as they're VERY chinzy and anything you touch breaks.

Hard to believe this apples/oranges comparison.

__________________
Kent Christensen
Albuquerque
'07 GL320CDI, '10 CL550. '01 Porsche Boxster
Two BMW motorcycles

I went through a similar quandary with my w124 TE. When I was looking to replace it, a dealer gave me a slightly used w210 wagon (about 20K miles on the odo) to use for a week. I didn’t like it as much as the W124. After that I got another week long loaner of a ML and ended up ordering one of those instead of the W210 wagon. There is something about the W124 TE’s ride that is unmatched in other vehicles.

But rather than a newer wagon, why not drop a few Kbucks into the TE? The W124 is one of the most rebuildable vehicles made. Start by a new do on the suspension bushings, continue with new shocks in front and as needed in back. This won’t cost much and will permit the suspension to spring back to original spec. Folks who have done this have never been less than delighted with the results.

__________________
...Tracy

'00 ML320 "Casper"
'92 400E "Stella"

This might apply to the 240 and 740 models, but not the S70 and newer models. The interior materials, with the exception of the fake wood, are easily of a higher quality than that of the 210's.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

my daughter had a new volvo cross country (i think that was what it was) a few years back. i was not at all impressed. it rode rough and felt like a gussied up ford taurus.

could be just me.

i havent been in any mb wagon newer than about 95 which my daughter has now. i like the way it drives and rides.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

A car magazine said recently, and I think they got it right, that the best Volvo is always the base model. When they get fancy, on motors or drivetrains or suspensions or anything, they screw it up. Unfortunately for them few people buy the base model and their reputation is suffering.